Introduction
The AeroVironment Global Observer is a concept for a high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, designed by AeroVironment (AV) to operate as a stratospheric geosynchronous satellite system with regional coverage.

Two Global Observer aircraft, each flying for up to a week at an altitude of 55,000 to 65,000 feet (17,000 to 20,000 m), could alternate coverage over any area on the earth, providing a platform for communications relays, remote sensing, or long-term surveillance.

In addition to flying above weather and above other conventional aircraft, operation at this altitude permits communications and sensor payloads on the aircraft to service an area on the surface of the earth up to 600 miles (970 km) in diameter, equivalent to more than 280,000 square miles (730,000 km2) of coverage. Global Observer may offer greater flexibility than a satellite and longer duration than conventional manned and unmanned aircraft.

The Global Observer is currently in development; its first flight was in August 2010, and the first hydrogen-fueled flight was in January 2011.

Statistics
Endurance: 5 – 7 days
Payload: Up to 400 lbs (180 kg)
Operating altitude: 55,000 to 65,000 feet (17,000 to 20,000 m)
Propulsion system: Liquid hydrogen-powered internal combustion powerplant driving four high efficiency electric motors. The aircraft does not produce carbon emissions.
Wing Span: 175 feet (53 m)
Length: 70 feet (21 m)
Launch/Recovery Method: Operate from conventional 150 ft (46 m) W X 6,000 ft (1,800 m) long paved runways (<4,200 ft takeoff and landing distance)
JCTD Program
The Global Observer Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program has the goal of helping solve the capability gap in persistent ISR and communications relay for the US military and homeland security. The Global Observer JCTD is demonstrating a new stratospheric, extreme endurance UAS that can be transition for post-JCTD development, extended user evaluation, and fielding. This program is a joint program with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and AeroVironment that started in September 2007 and will culminate in a Joint Operational Utility Assessment (JOUA) in 2011.

The program provides for the system development, production of two aircraft, development flight testing, and JOUA with ISR and communications relay payload. The flight testing and JOUA will be conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The primary objectives of the Global Observer

JCTD Program are:
Develop enabling technologies for a liquid hydrogen powered Global Observer UAS.
Design, build, and demonstrate the Global Observer UAS for a 5 – 7 day endurance for 55,000 to 65,000 feet (17,000 to 20,000 m) altitude missions with 380-pound, 2.8 kW payload capacity. The system must be capable of being transported by a C-130 aircraft.

Integrate and assess military utility of modular Global Observer payloads to address user identified gaps in ISR and communications relay.
Evaluate system life cycle costs.

Program Cost
US$140 million

JCTD Sponsors
U.S. Department of Defense
United States Special Operations Command
United States Strategic Command
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Defense Threat Reductions Agency